Scripture for the week of September 1, 2024
By JoBeth Kested
“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’ Deuteronomy 33:26-27 (NIV)
Have you ever felt the heavy weight of discouragement in trying to stand in the battles for what is righteous, honorable and true? The word Jeshurun in this verse is often used instead of the name Israel, God’s chosen people, and also implies one who is straight, upright and just. Therefore, this scripture exhorts us that the God of those who stand upright and straight for justice, His chosen ones, He will ride the winds of the clouds across the heavens in all of His majestic power to come to your help. He declares that He is your secure refuge and that He upholds you close to His heart in the everlasting strength of His arms; defending you in battle and promising to destroy your enemies! Be encouraged, for truly, there is no one like our God!
Scripture for the week of July 14, 2024 By JoBeth Kested
The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
Have you ever come to an unexpected fork in the road, afraid and discouraged without a clue of which way to go? You may be holding onto some hopes, promises and dreams but feel like you have lost your way. This scripture was spoken to Joshua when Moses directed him to lead the Israelites into the promised land. What an encouragement this promise of the Lord’s presence and guidance must have been to Joshua and it can be for you, too. Grab hold of this truth for yourself and allow the Lord to reveal and establish the hope of His presence with you. You can release your fears and discouragements knowing without a doubt that The Lord is with you! He’ll never leave you and He is going before you to lead you into the future, hope and blessings He has prepared just for you! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 82 CJB A psalm of Asaf: Elohim [God] stands in the divine assembly; there with the elohim [judges], he judges: “How long will you go on judging unfairly, favoring the wicked? (Selah) Give justice to the weak and fatherless! Uphold the rights of the wretched and poor! Rescue the destitute and needy; deliver them from the power of the wicked!” They don’t know, they don’t understand, they wander about in darkness; meanwhile, all the foundations of the earth are being undermined. “My decree is: ‘You are elohim [gods, judges], sons of the Most High all of you. Nevertheless, you will die like mortals; like any prince, you will fall.’” Rise up, Elohim, and judge the earth; for all the nations are yours.
We stand still to hear and see and know that You alone are ADONAI our Elohim. Just as Moses, we fear You, yet we will come to You in the fire to hear Your voice. We choose You!
Deuteronomy 5:4-6 CJB Adonai spoke with you face to face from the fire on the mountain. At that time I stood between Adonai and you in order to tell you what Adonai was saying; because, on account of the fire, you were afraid and wouldn’t go up onto the mountain. He said, ? “‘I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, where you lived as slaves.
We stand ready for Shavuot-Pentecost. We await Your fresh FIRE. We want to burn for You. So come Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). Pour out as cloven tongues of fire over, in and through us. We receive all that You have and stand as Your Apostles did, ready, willing and submitted unto You in Yeshua’s (Jesus) Name. Amen
Acts 2:1-4 CJB The festival of Shavu‘ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
These two events are Shevuot-Pentecost. The giving of Torah and The out pouring of Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit). same Days.. ADONAI is speaking One New Man…are you listening? Or do you want someone like Moses to stand in your place and pass in the information? The choice to Hear His voice yours is yours. Be filled to overflowing by Ruach Ha Kodesh.
Be ready to receive all that He has for you on this day. Tuesday, June 11th thru Thursday June 13th 2024.
We have Passed Over by the Blood of the LAMB Yeshua (Jesus) out of the hand of the enemy. Counted the 49 Days of the Omer and have arrived. It’s time to Celebrate! It’s time to be filled to overflowing by Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit). Yeshua (Jesus) has already paid the price for you in full.
Are you Ready? I am Ready! come Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit), we welcome You!
Remember that Abba created the Sun, Moon and Stars to govern His Moed Times. His appointed feast days to meet with us. He never changed His calendar.
We are in covenant with YHWH our Elohim, filled to overflow with Ruach HaKodesh in Yeshua’s Name Amen.
Scripture for the week of June 9, 2024 By JoBeth Kested
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Psalm 46:10-11 (NKJV)
Have you ever enjoyed a summer night of frogs croaking, crickets creaking and fireflies flitting? Or have you ever taken the time to look for pictures in the clouds or watched for falling stars in a dark night sky? Isn’t it interesting how much we can see and hear if we will take the time to be still. In stillness we may also have to face our encroaching fears, our emptiness or our feelings of being all alone. But, in this scripture God instructs us that we will find Him in the still and quiet place. Our Heavenly Father desires for us to cease from our struggles and striving to find the comfort, peace and rest we so long for in the stillness of His presence. Whatever we may be facing in the uncertainties and upheavals of this world our God declares in this scripture that He will be exalted above all else in the earth. The Lord of Hosts is with us and is our refuge. Selah means ponder and think of that! Amen.
Scripture for the week of June 2, 2024 By JoBeth Kested
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 2 Peter 1:2 (NKJV)
Are you in need of abundant grace and peace? Grace is undeserved favor and divine assistance. Peace is tranquility, harmony and freedom from disturbance or affliction. The Biblical definition of knowledge is based on understanding from experience. This verse exhorts us that the more we increase in knowing our Father God, and our Savior Jesus, the more His grace and peace will increase in our lives. Like the Hebrews in the wilderness that had to gather fresh manna each day, Jesus is the Bread of Life that God has provided for us to that we need to seek new each day. Whatever we may have experienced of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and provision in the past, be encouraged to KNOW that as we seek to know Him more each day we’ll never exhaust the supply His sufficient favor, divine assistance, and peace that passes understanding. May His grace and peace be multiplied to you today.
Scripture for the week of May 26, 2024 By JoBeth Kested
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:9 (NIV)
Have you heard the saying,”You can’t know where you are going unless you know where you came from”? When we remember the stories of those before us that overcame great trials, handicaps, poverty, and wars we are encouraged that we can also overcome the trials before us. Likewise, God instructs us in this scripture to remember the former things. In the midst of our current needs and busyness, have we forgotten the answered prayers and miracles we’ve experienced or learned in the past that will inspire our faith to trust God today? Twice God declares that He alone is God and there is none like Him! Let us remember there is no other God whose very nature is love, extends mercy, offers peace, forgives sin, heals diseases, saves the lost, wipes away all our tears and knows the number of hairs on our heads! Yet, He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords and commands the angelic armies of heaven. There is no other God like our God!
Scripture for the week of May 5, 2024 By JoBeth Kested
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Do have difficulty dealing with fear of failure, fear of rejection, or fear of the unknown? Fear is the friend of doubt and unbelief and the robber of our faith. The King James Bible mentions “fear not”, “do not fear” and “do not be afraid” 110 times and it is usually followed by exhortations that the Lord is with you. God makes five promises in this scripture. 1) He is with you. 2) He is your God. 3) He gives strength to replace your weariness. 4) He will help you. 5) And, He holds you up in the power of His righteousness. So, let the power of His presence, strength and righteousness overcome your fears of failure, inadequacy, or insufficiency. Let your faith be renewed in God’s empowering love, provision, and protection for you today.
Scripture for the week of April 21, 2024 By JoBeth Kested
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV
Have you ever felt like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole? Do you have the repetitive lies of the world going round and round in your head: “Not qualified, not smart, not pretty, too fat or too old”? Maybe it is time to heed the advice of this scripture and to stop trying to conform to the self demeaning standards of this world. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Believe you are who God says you are; accepted in the beloved, (Eph 1:6) fearfully and wonderfully made, (Ps 139:14) child of God, (John 1:12) and that your gifts make room for you (Pr 18:16). The more we focus on who God says we are the more we will clearly discern His good, pleasing and perfect will for us. Oh Lord, renew our minds with the washing of Your Word that we might find our perfect place in Your will. Amen.
Scripture for the week of April 14, 2024 By JoBeth Kested
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
Do you find it difficult to trust others because of past betrayal, rejection or abandonment? You may remember a time as a child when your Dad encouraged you to leap and to trust that he would catch you; or being blindfolded to trust someone else to lead you in the hope that they would not let you stumble or fall. When others have failed us and we can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel we don’t have to struggle and strive to figure it all out when we don’t know what to do. When there is no light of understanding before us we are exhorted to put ALL our trust in the Lord; in His loving, compassionate, goodness and grace. Our Father God is always there to heal our hearts, to catch us and to guide us when our hopes have crumbled and we can’t see the way ahead. We can trust the Lord to direct our paths for His love never fails. Amen!
Scripture of the week for April, 2024 By JoBeth Kested
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-12 (NIV)
Have you ever heard someone say, “I love you to the moon and back” as an expression of their love? God declares the magnitude of His love for us if as there is no end to the height of the heavens above the earth! But, what does it mean to fear the Lord? It simply means great reverence and awe for the Almighty-Omnipotent-Creator-Ruler God of the universe and to acknowledge that He is also the Lord over us individually, as well. When we receive the gift of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus, our Father God extends His lovingkindness that removes the consequences of our failure to meet His standards of holiness and perfection as far from us as the east is from the west! How wonderful it is to understand that east and west can never ever meet! May we choose the fear of the Lord and experience God’s extravagant love for us that is over the rainbow, beyond the moon and to the height of the heavens!
